Bachelor fans will always remember DeAnna Pappas, the 26-year old brown-eyed beauty who was shocked when Brad Womack jilted her at the final rose ceremony. At the time, DeAnna had seemed a shoo-in for a proposal, and when Brad turned away Jenni, the other “last Bachelorette standing,” it looked even more like DeAnna was going to come away the winner. But Brad, in an unprecedented Bachelor move, chose neither woman, leaving DeAnna in tears, wondering what happened.

Later, DeAnna learned on an episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show that she was chosen to be the next Bachelorette, the hit spin-off of The Bachelor that brought together infamous reality couple, Trista and Ryan Sutter. And now, with the season of The Bachelor: London Calling, winding down to a close, DeAnna is back and looking for love all over again. Only this time she’s the one in charge.

DeAnna Pappas is a real estate agent, who grew up in Kentucky with her older brother Thomas and younger sister Chrissy. DeAnna’s mother died of cancer when DeAnna was only 12, and the young girl, who had been primarily raised by her grandmother and aunt up until that time, moved in with her dad (who had been divorced from her mother since DeAnna was six) in Georgia. The loss of her mother is part of the motivation driving DeAnna to find love and start a family, so she has time to spend with her future kids.

DeAnna is an energetic woman who played softball in high school, was president of her Junior and Senior classes, and worked for Habitat for Humanity through church. DeAnna enjoys white water rafting, camping, and traveling (she has experienced lengthy travel in Europe).

DeAnna is not afraid to get down to work, and has held a variety of jobs since she was 14. She scored her first managerial job when she was 19, managing a restaurant. Because of her hardworking background in the restaurant/bar business, DeAnna has great cooking and bartending skills.

DeAnna is a 2005 graduate of Georgia Military College with an Associates Degree in General Studies, and earned her real estate license through the Gaddy School in 2006.

Will DeAnna be able to impress one of the 25 Bachelors who will soon be lining up to woo her? She certainly thinks so. And perhaps this time the romance will stick.

Catch the season premiere of The Bachelorette on Monday, May 19th at 10:00 PM (ET) on ABC.